The top-seeded Denver Nuggets will reach the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history when they face the unexpected magical Miami Heat, who entered the Finals by grabbing seven favorites for the Celtics.
Led by two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets will seek to claim the team's first championship, while under Jimmy Butler's playoff performance, they will seek to claim the team's fourth championship.
The US media believes that the key to Miami: keep Bam Adebayo on the field and keep the backcourt hot
In addition to Butler's being the Eastern Conference Finals MVP and will attract attention, the Heat's biggest key is keeping Bam Adebayo out of foul trouble. Jokic is the most dominant player in the series, so Adebayo will have to both limit him on the defensive end and provide some help to Butler on the offensive end.
Sporjan Cody Zeller and Kevin Loew have consistent playing time in the playoffs, but they don't have the skill and consistency of Adebayo. If the Heat's All-Star center gets into foul trouble, Jokic will be a bigger problem.
In addition, Gabe Vincent, Caleb Martin and Duncan Robinson need to keep shooting. In Miami's third game over the Celtics, Vincent shot 11 of 14, and Spohr praised his ability, believing Vincent could play to his abilities and help the team in a variety of ways. Martin shot 63.2 percent from the field in Game 4 and wasn't shaken by the grim situation of the playoffs, especially after scoring a combined 47 points in Games 6 and 7. After retiring from the rotation, Robinson filled the bench well with Taylor Hiro and Victor Oladipo absent — Robinson shot 13-of-20 in Game 2 and Game 3 in total.
The Heat can make it to the Finals has already worked wonders, let's see if it can continue to build on and let us witness a magical Heat.